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The Best Residential Architects and Designers in Jersey City, New Jersey

14 Min Read

Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 08:48 am

In recent years, Jersey City has experienced an astonishing transformation. Along with a number of other changes to the city, private residences have gone through a metamorphosis. As housing prices continue to spike, more and more professionals and families are seeking Jersey City’s urban areas. 

The majority of homes in these areas are between historic homes, Victorian-era cottages, and more commonly, multifamily homes. Despite the volume of projects, architects in Jersey City find ways of adding flair to their beautiful shores.

We carefully weighed the accreditation and certifications, professional affiliations, and the recognition each firm has received in the form of industry awards and press. We also took into account their years in the industry, client reviews, and range of services offered. For a home designed with the utmost care for client visions and impeccable industry standards, get in touch with the best residential architects in Jersey City.

This list includes both licensed architects and residential designers who can both design stunning homes but differ in other services offered. Architects are trained in design, engineering, and project management and have passed a licensing exam. Residential designers typically don’t manage projects and plans will need to be approved by a structural engineer. Whether you choose to hire an architect or a residential designer will depend on your project needs and complexity.

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.


C+C Architecture

930 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306

Caswell and Frederick Cooke founded C+C Architecture. The father-and-son tandem shares over 50 years of architectural expertise with its team. C+C Architecture specializes in architectural design, project management, and graphic design.

C+C Architecture is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). This means that the firm is capable of offering its services just about anywhere. The Wall Street Journal, Jersey Digs, Newark Pulse, and New York Business Journal have published articles featuring the firm.

Its portfolio contains projects ranging from single-family homes to lofts and condominiums. Take a look at this striking container home in Newark. The project marries the idea of modern and affordable living by designing recycled shipping containers. The simple, sturdy home is perfect for families wanting a safe, beautiful space.


Clawson Architects

511 Valley St., Maplewood, NJ 07040

Clawson Architects is a Maplewood-based studio offering architectural expertise in Jersey City, Montclair, South Orange, and more.  René and Marvin Clawson’s seasoned hands and crisp ideas guide the firm. Both leaders contribute greatly to the growing Clawson Architects team. Marvin is an NCARB-certified architect with experience designing over 500 residential projects. Meanwhile, René shares her intuitive sense of style in art and design with the team.

The firm’s award-winning service has won a number of awards, including the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Design Excellence Award for three consecutive years. The firm’s talented team and stunning designs have been included in many books and national design publications. The firm’s architects and designers are certified by the AIA, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), NCARB, and they are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED AP).


Derk Garlick Architects

720 Monroe, E-514 Hoboken, NJ 07030

After working on high-end custom residential and commercial projects in New York, Derk Garlick started Derk Garlick Architects in 2003. Garlick is an AIA-certified architect as well as a LEED Accredited Professional. Since the firm’s beginning, the firm has provided New Jersey with premium designs.

The firm does not disappoint when it comes to creating complex designs responding to present problems. Derk Garlick Architects have graced the pages of well-known publications like Vogue, Allure, Elle, and Gotham. Its Montclair custom home is one project to look out for. The project features a Mid-Century modern style.


Evans Architects

470 Chamberlain Ave., Paterson, NJ 07522

For more than 50 years, Evans Architects has shaped New Jersey residents’ lifestyles. Evans Architecture was founded by John Evans. His deep background in architecture and engineering has been the firm’s cornerstone from the beginning. Matthew, on the other hand, is a seasoned architect with over 25 years of architectural and design expertise.

The firm’s success is a result of the team’s effort to give clients a tailored-fit approach. That approach is evident in both its residential and commercial projects. Evans Architects’ works, for the most part, in New Jersey and New York.  Through its wide experience in design, the firm is able to provide a wide spectrum of styles.


Forefront Designs

350 Warren St. Studio #11, Jersey City, NJ 07302

40 years of architectural experience has shaped David Bailey’s skill. In 1996, Bailey founded Forefront Designs to give an avenue for its artistic designs to prosper. the firm offers architectural designs for residential custom homes, renovations, and commercial projects.  The majority of its work adorns New Jersey’s metropolitan area. 

Besides architecture, the firm also offers interior design, engineering, and facilities management. The classic yet comfortable appearance of shingle-style homes is what makes it a great design option for families. The same is true for the classic shingle home in New Jersey. The home’s interior is as neatly designed as its exterior.


Gesture Ink Architecture

111 Town Square Pl. Suite #1203, Jersey City, NJ 07310

Gesture Ink Architecture is one of New Jersey’s freshest architectural firms. Mel Sarkor-Clinton and Milton Hernandez founded Gesture Ink Architecture in 2012. Both professionals are knowledgeable in architecture, as a result of their academic and field backgrounds. Brought up by a structural engineer and a fashion designer, Sarkor-Clinton’s passion for architecture started early. Hernandez, on the other hand, mastered his craft by gathering different architectural styles by working for a decade in New York.     

 

The firm has been using technology to create a new wave of solution-centered designs. By using a Spatial Visualization for 3D images, the team saves time and workforce by skipping the long process of coordinating 2D drafts. Since Jersey City is known for its historical buildings, most of its projects loop around home alterations, adaptive reuse, commercial fit-outs, and academic alterations.


Guzzo + Guzzo Architects

608 Ridge Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

It all started when Salvatore Guzzo joined Harold Glucksman and formed Glucksman-Guzzo architects in the ’60s. The firm opened one office after another to extend its client reach. Salvatore Guzzo’s six decades of architectural practice earned him a reputation as a reliable, trustworthy designer. Today, Anthony acts as the firm’s president alongside Salvatore as vice president. He has over 20 years of experience designing residential and commercial projects. As a member of the AIA and NCARB, Anthony is licensed to practice architecture in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

For more than 40 years, the firm has been designing hundreds of projects that reflect its ability. The diversity of its projects includes private homes and government facilities. The knowledge, expertise, and ethics the firm exhibits are the virtues that have kept it in the industry for such a long time. Guzzo + Guzzo works in the New Jersey metro area and its team holds licenses in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida.


Jeff Jordan Architects

121 Newark Ave. Suite #582, Jersey City, NJ 07302

From the busy city to the calmer countryside, Jeff Jordan Architects is a familiar name. Working for various architectural firms in San Francisco helped Jeff Jordan gather experience in designing residential and commercial build-outs. His expertise with architectural design was recognized with an AIA Henry Adams Certificate.

The firm is committed to sustainability, innovation, and always growing its collective knowledge of the construction process. Doing so allows the firm to create designs that flow seamlessly, achieving the best result possible. One of the most intriguing projects in its portfolio is the Montclair House. The kitchen connects to the outdoor space, blending indoor and outdoor living. Jeff Jordan Architects has graced the pages of Dwell magazine, New Jersey Monthly Magazine, Traverse Magazine, and Real Cedar Magazine.


Jensen C. Vasil Architect

205 12th St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

Jensen C. Vasil Architect started serving New York and New Jersey in 2005. Jensen Vasil, together with a team of design-savvy professionals, continues to create a diverse and beautiful body of work. Vasil’s knowledge of architecture is something he gained by working alongside experts in the industry. One of Jensen Vasil Architect’s distinguishing characteristics is aesthetically pleasing designs that answer real-world problems. Vasil is licensed to work in New Jersey and New York where he designs house developments.

Row houses generally don’t give its owners much space to move around. Jensen C. Vasil Architect broke this pattern and made a spacious gut design renovation. Since less is more in creating a bigger space, the firm used fewer walls and long hallways. The firm designed the renovation of the existing four floors as well as a full extension at the rear. This exemplifies the firm’s knowledge when it comes to providing clients with a better home experience.


Mowery Marsh Architects

608 Bloomfield St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

Mowery Marsh Architects prides itself in a high level of service to its residential clients providing guidance through all aspects of the design and construction process. The firm started in 2004 working primarily on brownstone renovations with a focus on maximizing space and utilization with artistic design solutions that suit these types of home. Since then, they have expanded to working on renovations and new built projects throughout NJ & NY and as far as Seattle, WA.

Fostering a healthy balance of design and client engagement has been one of the firm’s priorities since day one. While all of their projects seek energy efficiency, a significant number of them also follow the rigorous Passive House standard. The firm specializes in simple, yet remarkable homes, homes that have been featured in Dwell Magazine, Residential Design Magazine, The Digest, Hoboken House Tour, Architectural Record, Residential Architect, and the recently released Reveal by the Property Brothers.


Palermo Edwards Architecture

600 Mountain Rd., Kinnelon, NJ 07405

Palermo Edwards Architecture is an award-winning firm offering a broad design service. The firm is among the many who place as much importance on sustainability as design. As a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional, the firm believes in creating healthy buildings. This environmental effort gained the firm LEED Platinum awards.

Jennifer Palermo is the seasoned architect who leads Palermo Edwards Architecture’s team. She gained her experience studying in the US and in Italy where she was also able to learn about urban development. Her 15 years at Inglese Architecture & Engineering was her training ground in architecture. That robust experience gave her a strong grasp of large-scale projects for residential and commercial clients.

Palermo Edwards’ skilled team reimagined this Wright-Clark house. The firm restored each detail of the disfigured home, from its façade down to the details of its interior structure. Historic preservation has brought Palermo Edwards Architecture awards.


Peter Johnston Architect

84 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030

Peter Johnston Architect has been gracing New Jersey with diverse architectural services since 1995. It’s committed to creating projects for its clients that are the best. That means having a hands-on team that integrates everything, from conceptualization down to material selection. Peter Johnston is an AIA member who creates designs that marry sustainability to bold styles. To ensure project success, Johnston oversees each project’s design and execution.

Magazines like NJ Monthly, Interior Design, Contract Magazine, and Interiors & Sources have mentioned the firm’s works. One of its projects in Hoboken has been featured on Design NJ and This Old House. The homeowners sought the expertise of Peter Johnston as they sought to turn the old brownstone home into a 21-st century family home. Design NJ named the project the Hoboken Haven after its stunning transformation.


Poskanzer Skott Architects

550 N Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Poskanzer Skott Architects’ history in New Jersey started back in 1972. It came out of Barry Poskanzer’s idea to provide innovative and economical design solutions. Not long after establishing the firm, Larry Skott joined him. Today the company serves the New Jersey and New York metro areas with residential and commercial design.

Clients find Poskanzer’s artistic style and Scott’s practical approach reliable quantities. That reliability helps clients feel confident trusting the professional duo handle any project. In 2013, it was given the AIA Architect League PEER and the National Celebration of Architecture and Design Program Award.


SK2 Architects

38 Jackson St. Suite A201, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Established in 2016. SK2 Architects is among the growing number of skilled architects in New Jersey. The firm blends artistry with purpose in each design it crafts. Although the firm is based in Hoboken, SK2’s architecture services reach states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The firm lives by the saying that less is more. When it comes to the firm’s designs, it often adds bold concepts to simple designs. The spaces become more human-centric as a result. These light and airy spaces exude beauty in simplicity, and many of its clients praise the reliable design services of the firm. From planning to construction, its professional team is always ready to help. The personalized design for each client allows SK2 Architects to draw up solutions that respond to each client’s needs.


Weckenmann Architecture + Design

277 York St., Jersey City, NJ 07302

Weckenmann Architecture + Design started gracing Jersey City with its elegantly designed homes in 2016. The firm enjoys different challenges each project brings where it can further showcase its design capabilities. The end goal of each project is to bring a client’s vision to reality. 

The team is under the leadership of licensed architect, Will Weckenmann. Weckenmann has a decade of unparalleled experience working with projects ranging from residential to large-scale commercial projects. Working as a lead architect and project manager for firms has honed Weckenmann’s ability to handle high-profile clients.

Weckenmann Architecture + Design had the privilege of restoring the 1920’s Glen Ridge residence. The owner of the Spanish Colonial home sought the help of the team to bring back the original pergola design. The firm drafted the new pergola and helped the owner obtain a Historic Preservation Commission approval.


How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Jersey City. If you don’t see your project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

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Custom home builders in New Jersey


About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.


Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

Author

  • Shahe is an Editor at Home Builder Digest with around four years of experience as a writer and editor in the construction space. Shahe has always had a huge interest in commercial/residential construction and real estate. On top of his experience at Home Builder Digest, he has two years of experience as a Construction Partner Specialist at BuildZoom and six years of experience as a licensed real estate agent. In his work, he takes advantage of his expertise to take complex technical jargon from those realms and transform them into accessible, engaging content, blending his business administration expertise with a degree from Arizona State University with his experiential insights. Expertise: Architecture, Home Design and Build, Home Remodeling Key Highlights: Arizona Real Estate - Licensed Salesperson Education: Arizona State University - Bachelors in Business Administration

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